The Gift of the Magi – Textbook Questions and Answers | Class 10 English

The moment you hear the word ‘Gift’, what feelings do you experience? Complete the web.

‘Gifts’ need not be material. Think of and list unforgettable gifts given to you by: (1) parents/grandparents (2) siblings/relatives (3) friends (4) strangers.

Say whether the words are infinitives, participles or gerunds: (1) The athletes wanted to take part in the running race. (2) Would you like to eat at the dining table? (3) Reading is good for the mind and soul. So take up reading books. (4) I like to eat fruits rather than eating sweets. (5) Listening and speaking sharpen your language skills.

Why do you think Della counted the money three times?

What signs indicate that Della was very poor?

What was the cause of Della’s disturbed mind?

What were the couple’s prized possessions?

What made Della look at her reflection critically?

What good habits did Della have?

Why did Jim stare at Della?

What gift had Jim brought for Della?

Why did the beautiful present flash?

Why are Jim and Della referred to as the magi?

Complete the following: (a) Della had saved ____. (b) Della wanted to buy ____. (c) Della’s beautiful hair ____.

How much did Della save for Christmas? What does it show?

Why did Della take pride in the beauty of her hair?

Why and how did Della sell her hair? Do you think she did well?

Why did Jim sell his gold watch? Do you think he did well?

Why did Jim and Della want to present the gifts?

Why did Della feel sad on losing her hair?

What did Jim bring out from his coat? Describe the scene.

How beautiful was the watch chain? Would you have liked to own it?

Who were the first people to give Christmas gifts? (How did the magi celebrate Christmas?)

What is the moral of the story?

Map the problems and solutions in ‘The Gift of the Magi’. (Given: Problem – Della doesn’t have enough money to buy Jim a present. Problem – Jim doesn’t have enough money to buy Della a gift.)

Say WHAT: (a) troubled Della on Christmas Eve? (b) was the current family income? (c) could have outshone the Queen of Sheba’s jewels? (d) was the cost of the fob chain? (e) sent Jim into a trance on his return?

Say WHY: (a) did Della sell her lovely long hair? (b) was Della a bit apprehensive after she had sold her hair? (c) did Jim avoid checking the time on his gold watch in a public place? (d) did Della’s scream of joy change to loud wails? (e) in the end, did Jim ask Della to put the chops on?

Say WHEN: (a) had Jim added ‘Dillingham’ as his middle name? (b) did a tear or two drop on the old red carpet? (c) did Della go through goods in the stores? (d) did Della say a silent prayer to God? (e) did the narrator ask us to look away for ten seconds?

Use the chart to explain situational irony in ‘The Gift of the Magi’: what Della plans and what actually happens; what Jim plans and what actually happens.

Fill in each blank with the correct word from the word list (agile, cascade, coveted, instigate, prudence, assertion, chronicle, inconsequential, predominating, subside, gobbling). The boxed letters spell something Della receives. 1. A small waterfall 2. You wished greedily for something. 3. This describes something important. 4. You hope a loud siren will do this. 5. Troublemakers do this.

Complete the basic plot diagram: exposition (opening), inciting moment, rising action, conflict (climax), resolution.

Pick out words from the story that mean the following and write N, V or Adj: (1) reluctance to spend money (2) relating to (3) urge (4) reduce in value (5) wisdom (6) very huge (7) foolishness.

What would you do if you ran short of money to buy a birthday gift for one of your parents or siblings?

Think of two alternatives that could have prevented Della and Jim from selling their most precious possessions.

Justify the title of the story, ‘The Gift of the Magi’.

Gifts that you buy have fixed prices. How can the buyer increase the value of a gift bought for someone very dear?

What situation is the climax of the story? How does it end up as an anticlimax?

If you share this story with friends in a junior class, how would they react at the end?

Who were the very first people to give Christmas gifts? What had inspired them to do so?

At the end of the story, O. Henry remarks that of all who give gifts, Della and Jim were the wisest. Explain this paradoxical remark.

Pick out and rewrite the exact sentence which indirectly implies: (a) Della was not too happy about bargaining for grocery etc. (b) The flat was in a dilapidated condition. (c) King Solomon would express his jealousy of Jim. (d) Della spent a joyful time for two hours. (e) Della’s elated mood underwent a change as she opened her gift. (f) The weekly income amount does not matter. (g) Let us set aside our gifts and get ready for dinner.

Frame wh-questions to get the following answers: (1) Life is made up of sobs, sniffles and smiles. (2) Many a happy hour she had spent planning for something nice for him. (3) Her hair reached below her knee. (4) She was ransacking the stores for Jim’s present. (5) At 7 o’clock the coffee was made. (6) The magi were wise men.

Add appropriate question tags: (1) Della leaped up, ...? (2) You’ll have to look at the time, ...? (3) They were expensive combs, ...? (4) I just had to do it, ...? (5) I am still pretty, ...? (6) Give it to me quick, ...? (7) There was clearly nothing to do, ...? (8) My hair grows so fast, ...? (9) Let’s put our Christmas presents away, ...? (10) She had a habit of saying a silent prayer, ...?

Supply short answers (pronoun + auxiliary): (1) Don’t you like me? Yes, ... (2) Have you cut off your hair? Yes, ... (3) Shall I put the chops on? Yes, ... (4) Isn’t it a dandy? Yes, ... (5) Does it make a difference? No, ... (6) Will you buy my hair? No, ... (7) Can you afford it? No, ... (8) Are you fooling me? No, ...

Pick out the infinitives/gerunds/participles and state what each one is: (1) I want to see how it looks. (2) I don’t like frightening stories. (3) We decided to settle in Pune. (4) Playing sitar is Arjun’s hobby. (5) It was a horrifying experience for all of us.